COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, August 29, 2025 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka’s leading ride-hailing and on-demand platform PickMe has entered into a landmark research partnership with the University of Moratuwa, aiming to reshape the future of homegrown technology innovation.
The collaboration marks a clear shift from depending on foreign technologies to developing solutions designed for Sri Lanka’s unique needs. With a population of 22 million facing diverse mobility challenges — from unmarked village roads to congested city traffic — the partnership seeks to create scalable, practical solutions.
Key areas of focus include improving transport systems in places with limited GPS coverage, building easy-to-use interfaces for low-literacy communities, and linking multiple transport options such as buses, trains, and three-wheelers into one integrated mobility platform.
PickMe CEO Jiffry Zulfer said the company was entering a new stage of development. “As PickMe moves into the next stage of its growth, our need goes beyond daily data collection. We require deeper research and innovative thinking to understand society’s behavioural patterns and to design solutions that truly improve lives. Universities like Moratuwa can play a vital role here,” he explained.
The partnership allows PickMe to tap into advanced research without building its own R&D division, while the university benefits by applying its academic work to real-world challenges.
Prof. Niles Perera, Head of the Department of Transport Management & Logistics Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, said the initiative would inspire innovation among students. “This empowers our students to explore future mobility solutions while helping Sri Lanka’s journey towards technological advancement,” he noted.
